ExpressTruckTax Blog

Friday, August 25, 2017

We hope you’re enjoying GATS, the Great American Trucking Show. There’s no party like the trucking one in Dallas, Texas! Just keep in mind that your Heavy Vehicle Use Tax HVUT Form 2290 is due next Thursday on August 31st.

Now that doesn’t have to ruin your good time because you can actually file your Form 2290 with the ExpressTruckTax app while you’re at GATS and the entire process only takes a few minutes to complete. You can file while you wait in line for food, while judges vote on show truck winners, or simply while you sit down to take a break.

How To File Form 2290 With The ExpressTruckTax App?

First, you will download the app to your smartphone or tablet and create a free ExpressTruckTax account with your email address. Then you can start the e-filing process which only takes about five minutes to complete.

You will begin the filing process by entering your business information such as the name, address, and your EIN (Employer Identification Number). If you’re a sole proprietor you can use your personal information, but you still need an EIN. Your Social Security Number will not work in place of your EIN.

Then you will select your tax year and first use month. The current HVUT tax period began on July 1, 2017 and will end on June 31, 2018. Form 2990 is due based off of your first use month, and the deadline is due the last day of the month following the first use month. Most truckers use their trucks in July, making it their first use month, so their Form 2290 is due on August 31st.

Next, you will enter your vehicle information, including the taxable gross weight and VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). Be sure to select if your vehicles were used for any special purposes such as agricultural use or logging because those vehicles are subject to lower tax rate. Also, remember that you’re required to include your suspended vehicles on your Form 2290.

After that, ExpressTruckTax will automatically calculate the amount of HVUT for you, so don’t worry about having to handle any complicated calculations yourself. You can pay the amount you owe to the IRS through direct debit or electronic funds withdrawal, EFTPS, or check or money order.

Then you will be presented with a summary of your information so you can make sure you entered everything correctly. Make sure your VIN, business information, and EIN were entered correctly. ExpresstruckTax will also perform an internal audit on your form to catch any basic errors.

Finally, your filing process is complete and you can sign your form with a 5-digit code of your choice at the bottom of the page to transmit it directly to the IRS. Then within about 15 minutes, you will receive a copy of your stamped Schedule 1 via email.

For an even easier and faster way to file call TSNAmerica at 803.386.0320 to have a HVUT expert file for you over the phone. All you have to do is spend a few minutes on the phone and answer a few questions to instantly file your Form 2290 online. Then you will receive a copy of your stamped Schedule 1 via email.

Got Any Questions?

Well, we have the answers! If you need any assistance please don’t hesitate to contact the dedicated ExpressTruckTax support team. We are available over the phone Monday - Friday from 8 AM to 7 PM EST, via live chat, and offer 24/7 email support at support@expresstrucktax.com.

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

It’s that time of year again! Time to party deep in the heart of Texas with your fellow truckers, because GATS, The Great American Trucking Show will be kicking off on Thursday, August 24th, and ending on Saturday the 26th, providing you with 3 fulls days of action packed trucking activities. Some events are educational, others are for pure entertainment, and there will be over 554 exhibits to visit! So, what fun stuff can you do this year at GATS??

GATS 2017

Visit The Landstar Health And Wellness Pavilion

You can get check up by heading over the Landstar Health and Wellness Pavilion, where they will provide free health screenings, lessons about cooking, and fitness education. A few of the screenings include nutrition evaluations, diabetes, spinal assessment, BMI, blood pressure, and more.

This portion of the show will include a healthy food vendor as well as tons of other vendors offering services and products related to health and wellness. In order to promote driver health and spread health education, there will be an educational seminar and even healthy-cooking demonstrations.

Trucker Talent Search

On Friday from 3 to 4 PM you can head to the Trucker Talent Search at the Truckers News Stage in Hall A where 3 truckers will compete live. These truckers have been invited to participate in Overdrive-Red Eye Radio’s Trucker Search finals. It’s worth checking out to discover new talented truckers, plus Tony Justice will be hosting.

The three truckers competing were selected from a group of 42 entrees and include Richard Woods the country singer, Terrance Mathis the parody singer, and Michael Lochmiller another talented singer. The winner will be selected by a panel of judges and will win $1,000 and a studio recording session from AxleOutPro.

Overdrive’s Pride & Polish ShowYou can’t miss seeing some of the best show trucks in the world during the Overdrive’s Pride & Polish show. Competitors from all over will be there to show off their shiny rigs. At 8:30 AM competitors will put their rags down and judges will begin inspecting each vehicle at 9:30 AM.

Everyone can take the time to walk around and enjoy seeing these magnificent trucks while they attend GATS. The award ceremony will be hosted at 10 AM on Saturday morning, so make sure you don’t miss out on which rig is best.

Visit The Recruiting Pavilion

Want to find an amazing trucking job? Well, head on down to the Recruiting Pavilion where tons of fleets will love to meet you. There will be over 100 fleets there with representatives to speak to you about their programs and benefits.

They will tell you about the potential for upward mobility and you may find the perfect job that matches your needs. Skip all the phone calls and the online applications by speaking to the fleet representatives yourself, face to face!

Enjoy GATS!

You have been working hard all summer long, it’s time to take a load off and join tons of fellow truckers at GATS! We will even have a representative there who can answer all of your questions about ExpressTruckTax!

Friday, April 28, 2017

We had a great time at MATS, the Mid-American Trucking Show, in March, but now it’s time to get our rears in gear for GATS, the Great American Trucking Show! Why exactly do our rears need to be in gear? Because it’s time for the MATS 2 GATS weight loss challenge and we have the fitness tips to help you win.

From MATS to GATS Fitness Tips

GATS takes place in Dallas Texas from August 24th - 27th, and if you thought MATS was fun you’ll be in for a whole new trucking experience at GATS. However, are you up for the weight loss challenge?

Will you join forces with your fellow members of the trucking industry to lose a combined weight loss goal of over 2,000 pounds as a team by August 25th in the MATS 2 GATS challenge? Do you think you’re up to the task? Well then sign up here by May 31st! You will even get a t-shirt and a wristband for joining the challenge and we don’t have to tell you how cool trucking related shirts are. Plus, ToughTested will even be providing prizes!

However, how exactly does a member of the trucking industry lose weight? By spending hours on the road and at work without much time to exercise this task might sound difficult. However, there are a lot of small changes to your schedule that you can make to shed some extra pounds.

We understand that the idea of losing weight can be totally unexciting because you know that you will have to diet and give up awesome foods, but this isn’t necessarily the case. Strict diets and cutting out some foods completely often results in rebounding hard and regaining all of your lost weight.

Instead of totally cutting out carbs and sugar learn how to eat healthily and in moderation. Limit your calories and replace bad snacks like chips and candy bars with fruit or nuts. Plan your meals in advance. If you have a big breakfast then go for a light lunch. Also, healthier options like salads with grilled chicken will fill you up more than you think.

Planning ahead and taking healthier options with you in your truck or to your office will help you stick to your healthier meal plan. Instead of dealing with the hassle to pull over for a snack or go out and buy lunch your healthier option will conveniently already be waiting for you.

Put down the soda cup. Instead of drinking insanely sugary sodas to stay awake go for sugar-free options like black coffee or green tea. These options even come iced and will keep you awake longer because you won’t have a sugar crash.

Also, you don’t need to join a gym or adopt some crazy time-consuming workout routine to lose weight, even though they help. You will be surprised by the results you will see simply from moving around a little more.

Try to get in some extra steps by walking around the truck stop or office. It really doesn’t take that much time to hit the daily recommendation of 10,000 steps per day by taking a few extra steps here and there. Some truckers just circle their rigs a few times.

Every time you use the bathroom or a tv commercial comes on do some planks or pushups. These are exercises that can be done anywhere, even with limited space. You can use a pair of resistance straps in your rig with some free weights to work out after you park.

The next step is easy. Get enough sleep! It’s hard to lose weight when you’re stressed, and when you’re tired your body craves more sugary items for energy. By relaxing with a good night’s sleep your body will be ready to drop some pounds and won’t give you as many cravings for foods you shouldn’t be eating.

Join the MATS 2 GATS Challenge

Trucker health is extremely important. It’s time to join forces with your trucking industry family to shed pounds and help prevent the health issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep deprivation, and more that come with being overweight. Step up and join the MATS 2 GATS challenge!

For more trucking tips visit ExpressTruckTax.com and be sure to share your weight loss tips in the comment section below.